01

Day 01

The Aerial Tramway & the Uptown Design District

Mountain air in the morning, design shops and a great dinner.

1. Morning

   Palm Springs Aerial Tramway

   Ride one of the first rotating tram cars of the day up to the Mountain Station, about 8,500 feet above sea level.

2. Late Morning

   Mount San Jacinto State Park

   Walk the Desert View Trail for views over the valley, or take a longer trail through the pines.

3. Lunch

   Mountain Station

   Have lunch at the top of the tram, with views down to the desert.

4. Afternoon

   Uptown Design District

   Browse vintage furniture, design shops and galleries along North Palm Canyon Drive.

5. Late Afternoon

   Your hotel pool

   Cool off by the pool as the mountains turn pink.

6. Evening

   Workshop Kitchen + Bar

   Have dinner at this Michelin-recommended restaurant in the Uptown Design District.

02

Day 02

The Indian Canyons & South Palm Springs

Palm oases, cacti and an evening of old Palm Springs glamour.

1. Morning

   Palm Canyon

   Arrive at the Indian Canyons at opening time and hike into the palm oasis of Palm Canyon.

2. Late Morning

   Andreas Canyon

   Walk the shaded loop along the stream and past the rock formations.

3. Lunch

   Downtown

   Grab a burger at Tyler's or a sandwich at Sherman's Deli & Bakery.

4. Afternoon

   Moorten Botanical Garden

   See giant cacti and the cactarium at this family-run garden.

5. Late Afternoon

   Pool time

   Rest by the pool during the hottest part of the day.

6. Evening

   Melvyn's

   Have dinner and a martini at the Ingleside Inn's classic restaurant and piano lounge.

03

Day 03

Downtown, Agua Caliente Culture & Art

The tribe's story, a hot spring soak, modern art and a street fair.

1. Morning

   Agua Caliente Cultural Museum

   Learn the story of the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians at the museum, open Tuesday to Sunday.

2. Late Morning

   The Spa at Séc-he

   Soak in the mineral pools fed by the Agua Caliente hot spring, booked in advance.

3. Lunch

   Juniper Table

   Have a relaxed lunch at the Kimpton Rowan.

4. Afternoon

   Palm Springs Art Museum

   Explore modern art, glass and design, then photograph Forever Marilyn nearby.

5. Late Afternoon

   Architecture and Design Center

   See a design exhibition in Stewart Williams' former savings and loan building.

6. Evening

   VillageFest or Bar Cecil

   On Thursdays, stroll VillageFest on Palm Canyon Drive; on other nights, book dinner at Bar Cecil.

04

Day 04

Midcentury Modern Palm Springs

Butterfly roofs, celebrity homes and the city's design icons.

1. Morning

   Palm Springs Visitor Center

   Start at Albert Frey's former Tramway Gas Station, then join a guided architecture tour.

2. Late Morning

   Vista Las Palmas

   Drive or cycle past the Alexander homes, and see the Kaufmann House from the street.

3. Lunch

   Cheeky's

   Line up for brunch at this Michelin-recommended favorite.

4. Afternoon

   Movie Colony

   Explore the historic streets where Hollywood stars once hid away.

5. Late Afternoon

   Palm Springs City Hall

   Admire the midcentury civic building by Albert Frey and his partners.

6. Evening

   Colony Club

   Have dinner at the Colony Palms Hotel, a glamorous 1930s hotel.

05

Day 05

Sunnylands, the Living Desert & the Valley

A presidential estate, desert wildlife and a famous date shake.

1. Morning

   Sunnylands Center & Gardens

   Visit the free gardens and center in Rancho Mirage, or book a tour of the historic house.

2. Late Morning

   Sunnylands gardens

   Walk the desert gardens, then drive on to Palm Desert.

3. Lunch

   El Paseo

   Have lunch on Palm Desert's shopping street.

4. Afternoon

   The Living Desert Zoo and Gardens

   See giraffes, cheetahs and desert animals from around the world.

5. Late Afternoon

   Shields Date Garden

   Drive on to Indio for a date shake at Shields Date Garden, selling dates since 1924.

6. Evening

   Johnny Costa's Ristorante

   Return to Palm Springs for a classic Italian dinner.

06

Day 06

Joshua Tree National Park Day Trip

Twisted trees, giant boulders and a sky full of stars.

1. Morning

   Joshua Tree National Park

   Drive about an hour to the park and walk the Hidden Valley loop among the boulders.

2. Late Morning

   Skull Rock

   Stop at Skull Rock and the boulder fields around Jumbo Rocks.

3. Lunch

   Joshua Tree

   Have lunch in the town of Joshua Tree, near the west entrance.

4. Afternoon

   Cholla Cactus Garden

   Walk the short trail through a dense field of cholla cactus, without touching the spines.

5. Late Afternoon

   Keys View

   Look out over the Coachella Valley, the San Andreas Fault and the mountains.

6. Evening

   Stargazing

   Stay after dark for the stars, then drive back to Palm Springs.

07

Day 07

Tahquitz Canyon, Planes & Roadside Icons

A waterfall hike, historic aircraft, dinosaurs and a night out.

1. Morning

   Tahquitz Canyon

   Hike the loop to the seasonal waterfall in this sacred canyon, starting early.

2. Late Morning

   Palm Springs Air Museum

   See World War II and later aircraft in the museum's hangars.

3. Lunch

   Boozehounds

   Have lunch on the dog-friendly patio of this Michelin-recommended spot.

4. Afternoon

   Cabazon Dinosaurs

   Drive west to pose with Dinny and Mr. Rex along Interstate 10.

5. Late Afternoon

   San Gorgonio Pass Wind Farm

   Photograph the rows of wind turbines on the way back as the light softens.

6. Evening

   Plaza Theatre or Arenas Road

   Catch a show at the restored Plaza Theatre, or enjoy the bars of Arenas Road.